Community Newsletter – Issue 7 out now
Kilkenny County Council’s Quarterly Community E Newsletter is out now. It has relevant community information on grants, activities, advice, community structure/plans, good news stories etc. Click here to find out more.

‘The Importance of our Hedgerows: preserving our biodiversity’
Birdwatch Ireland’s Kilkenny Branch is holding a talk on The Importance of our Hedgerows: preserving our biodiversity on 25th October @ 8pm in the Heritage Council Offices Community Room. For further information email birdwatchkilkenny@gmail.com

Help shape the Heritage Council Strategic Plan 2018-2022
The Heritage Council is in the process of shaping their strategic plan 2018-2022 and they would love to hear from you. They have prepared a consultation document which gives a sense of the areas they are considering. To find out more and to submit your views/opinions by 20th November 2017 go to   http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/news/news-features/heritage-council-strategic-plan-2018-22-we-need-your-help

Ireland’s 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan launched
Minister Heather Humphreys recently launched Ireland’s 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan. The Plan sets out actions through which a range of government, civil and private sectors will undertake to achieve Ireland’s ‘Vision for Biodiversity’. Click here to find out more.

Biodiversity Ireland (Issue 12) is hot off the press. Read all about the All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020; this year’s Distinguished Recorder; Shieldbugs in Ireland; Biodiversity Tales … and lots more! Download a copy at http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/BiodiversityIrl-Issue-12_WEB.pdf

Featured Protected Species – Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)

In Ireland, the Autumn crocus is only found at a few sites in the Nore valley, in damp meadows and on the riverbanks.  This rare perennial flower is protected under national legislation.  It is associated with monastic settlements, is an important pharmaceutical plant, and is frequently cultivated as a decorative plant. The beautiful pinkish purple flowers appear in late summer and early autumn after the leaves have withered away.

For more information about protected species please contact the Kilkenny Conservation Ranger of the National Parks and Wildlife Service on 056-7760071.

The Wall Flora of Kilkenny City

The flora of old stone walls is an important, but often overlooked, aspect of our natural heritage. Old stone walls are a prominent feature in Kilkenny City with its medieval City Walls, historic buildings, church grounds and graveyards, thus making Kilkenny an ideal place to look at plants growing on stone walls.

The Wall Flora report commissioned by the Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council, in partnership with the Heritage Council, identifies and maps the plants that grow on the old walls of Kilkenny City, assesses the importance of the walls from an urban biodiversity perspective, and outlines recommendations for their future management. It is intended as a useful source of information for planners, the owners of historic walls, and Tidy Towns groups.

Click here  to view the Executive Summary of the Wall Flora of Kilkenny City Report

To order a copy of the report please contact the Heritage Office at dearbhala.ledwidge@kilkennycoco.ie or Tel: 056-7794925.

.

Tree Register of Ireland
The Tree Register of Ireland (TROI) is a database of outstanding trees in Ireland based on characteristics such as age, height, diameter, historical or folklore connections compiled by the http://treecouncil.ie/ . Click http://treecouncil.ie/?s=kilkenny to see the significant trees in County Kilkenny on the TROI.

National Survey of Native Woodlands 
The National Survey of Native Woodlands can be found here http://www.npws.ie/research-projects/woodlands, commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service,   identified 58 sites worthy of survey in Kilkenny.  Many of the woodlands surveyed are high in biodiversity, some hosting species which are unique to Ireland or confined to a small number of countries.

Ancient Woodlands
Ancient woodlands  are defined in Ireland as areas which have been wooded since 1660. For an Inventory of ancients and long established woodland in Ireland click on the following link http://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM46.pdf commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, has identified a total of 28 possible ancient woodlands and long established ancient woodlands in County Kilkenny.

Legal Protection for Trees and Woodlands
There are a number of legislative measures that provide for the protection of trees and woodlands. These include:

• Tree Preservation Orders (TPO)
  Trees, which are the subject of a TPO, cannot be felled unless the owner also obtains planning permission.   See the Kilkenny County Development Plan 2014-2020  (Appendix F) for list of TPO’s in the county.  Consult with the Parks Department of the County Council for the most up-to-date list.
• Tree Felling
  It is illegal to uproot or cut down any tree unless notice of intention to do so has been given in accordance with the 1946 Forestry Act.

For more information about woodlands and trees please contact the Kilkenny County Council Parks Department on 056-7794470.

Native Tree and Shrub Planting – finding the right tree for your space
The choice of appropriate tree and shrub species is very important in urban areas where there are restrictions on space. Where possible, use native species. Trees and shrubs that grow naturally in the surrounding countryside are often the best choice for your town or village. They support local wildlife, thrive in your climatic and soil conditions, and require little maintenance. Click here  for a list of trees and shrubs native to Ireland, and advice on the locations to which they are suited.
The following useful publications relate to native woodlands and native trees:

• Ireland’s Woodland Heritage – A Guide to Ireland’s Native Woodlands 
• Our Trees – A Guide to Growing Ireland’s Native Trees, this is available on the Tree Council of Ireland’s publications page .

Hedgerows

Most of Ireland’s oldest hedgerows, which are rich in plant varieties, have been in existence since 1750-1850 when open or ‘common’ land in Ireland was enclosed.

Hedgerows contribute significantly to the biodiversity and landscape character of County Kilkenny. They have an important farming function, help prevent flooding, are wildlife habitats, and wildlife corridors between habitats, and they also have historical significance as townland and field boundaries.

Hedgerows are afforded protection under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000, which prohibits the cutting of hedges during the bird nesting period (1st March -1st September).

Useful documents in relation to hedgerows include:
Conserving Hedgerows, and Managing Hedgerows.

Hedgerow Surveys
Kilkenny County Council has undertaken surveys of hedgerows in a number of settlements around the county (Kilkenny City, Gowran, Fiddown, Piltown, Johnstown, Urlingford, Ballyragget, Ballyhale, Mooncoin, and Knocktopher), as part of Habitat and Green Infrastructure Assessments.

Habitat Survey of Kilkenny City

Kilkenny City has a wealth of wildlife species, habitats and green infrastructure – a very important resource for residents and visitors alike. Habitats such as the River Nore, and its tributaries the Breagagh and Pococke, and species such as kingfishers, otters, salmon, meadows, woodlands and marshes all co-exist in our busy medieval city.

Kilkenny County Council, in partnership with the Kilkenny Heritage Forum and the Heritage Council, has surveyed and mapped all of the habitats and green infrastructure in Kilkenny City – the findings have been compiled into the Habitat Survey of Kilkenny City.

Habitat Survey of towns and villages in County Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Council has undertaken habitat surveys and green infrastructure assessments in a number of settlements around the county (Gowran, Fiddown, Piltown, Johnstown, Urlingford, Ballyragget, Ballyhale, Mooncoin, and Knocktopher).